Using Feedback

to Enhance Learning
and Teaching
Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff

Nurturing and Empowering Future Talents

Centre for Academic Excellence & Student Advisory and Development

Copyright © 2013 by Centre for Academic Excellence & Student Advisory and
Development (CDAE), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)

ISBN: 978-967-11270-8-7

Pocket Book Series: Using Feedback to Enhance Learning and Teaching

Author: Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any
form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior
written permission of Centre for Development of Academic Excellence(CDAE), Universiti
Sains Malaysia.

Centre for Academic Excellence & Student Advisory and Development (CDAE)
Bangunan H24, Kompleks Cahaya,
Lorong Cahaya,
11800, USM Pulau Pinang
 3
Contents
Contents 3
Preface 4
Synopsis 5
The Concept of Feedback 6
Continuum 7
The Concept of Feedback 7
The Concept of Feedback 8
Evidence for the Effects of Feedback on Learning and Teaching 9
2.1 How Effective is Feedback in the Educational Context? 9
2.2 Types of Feedback and How they Improve Learning Achievements 12
2.3 Reactions of Students and Teachers to Feedback 15
A Model to Identify the Contexts Under which Feedback has the Greatest
Impact 20
3.1 How Feedback Works 21
3.2 The Three Questions to be Addressed for Effective Feedback 22
3.2.1 Where am I going? 22
3.2.2 How am I doing? 25
3.2.3 Where to next? 25
3.3 Focus of feedback 26
Common Issues Related to Feedback 29
4.1 Timing of Feedback 29
4.2 Effects of Positive and Negative Feedback 30
4.3 Feedback and Classrooms 31
4.4 Feedback and Assessment 33
Utilizing Feedback to Enhance Learning and Teaching in the Classroom 35
Challenges to Creating a Culture that Values Feedback 41
Take-home Message 42
References 43
 Preface
Dear Readers,

Teaching & Learning (T&L) has always stimulated

the development of various philosophies and
approaches, all with the common goal of achieving
the best possible learning outcome. Academicians
are responsible for inculcating learning skills in
students and for nurturing and empowering future
talents. In that spirit, a wide range of specific
methodologies has been designed to support
the T&L practice. Moreover, these methods are
continuously being improved and/or altered to fit
the ever-changing demographics, environment,
and mindset of learners. The Centre for Academic
Excellence & Student Advisory and Development
(CDAE) has taken this opportunity to publish
the Teaching and Learning Enhancement Series,
which provides materials pertaining to T&L that
are expected to provide an overview and deeper
understanding of specific T&L methodologies. We
hope that these e-books will help lecturers attain a
deeper understanding on the various approaches of
T&L.

Professor Abd Karim Alias

Director
Centre for Academic Excellence & Student Advisory
and Development (CDAE)
 Synopsis
The author begins with an exploration of the concept
of feedback and the research findings related to its
influence on learning and teaching. The findings are
discussed in relation to different types of feedback
and their functions in promoting student learning
and improved teaching, the reactions of students and
teachers to them, and their connections with assessment.
The author then proposes a feedback model to identify
the contexts under which feedback has the greatest
impact. Some common challenging issues regarding
feedback are also discussed. Finally, the model is used
to demonstrate how feedback can augment learning
and teaching, particularly in classrooms.

After reading this guidebook, readers should be able

to describe the concept of feedback, explain different
types of feedback, recognize the purposes of giving
feedback, devise effective ways to deliver feedback, and
use it in appropriate contexts to augment learning and
teaching in the classroom.
 1.0
The Concept of Feedback

Feedback is widely recognized as a tool to enhance performance and practice in

various educational settings (Archer, 2010; Hattie & Timperley, 2007; Jamtvedt et
al., 2006; Veloski et al., 2006). Therefore, it is considered to be an essential element
to promote cognitive, technical, and professional development (Archer, 2010). A
few conceptual definitions include the following:

Feedback is information with which a learner can confirm, add to,

overwrite, tune or restructure information in memory, whether that
information is domain knowledge, meta-cognitive knowledge,
beliefs about self and tasks, or cognitive tactics and strategies.
(Winne & Butler, 1994, pg. 5740)

Feedback is to communicate an individual status in relation to a

standard of behavior or professional practice.
(Veloski et al., 2006, pg. 120)

Feedback is conceptualized as information provided by an agent

(e.g., teachers, peers, books, parent, self, experience) regarding
aspects of one’s performance or understanding.
(Hattie & Timperley, 2007, pg. 81).

Effective feedback may be defined as feedback in which

information about previous performance is used to promote
positive and desirable development.
(Archer, 2010, pg. 101)
 7
Based on these concepts, feedback is considered to be a result of previous
performance and practice (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). Examples of feedback
include the following: 1) a teacher can provide information to correct a practice;
2) a friend can provide information to clarify understanding; 3) a learner can refer
to an answer key to evaluate the accuracy of an answer; and 4) an individual can
self-reflect on a past experience to improve future action.

To facilitate our understanding of the purposes, effects, and types of feedback, it

is helpful to envision a continuum of teaching and feedback (Figure 1) (Hattie &
Timperley, 2007). At one end of the continuum is instruction (i.e., teaching) and at
the other end is feedback.

Continuum

TEACHING FEEDBACK

Figure 1: Illustration of a continuum of teaching and feedback

Without learning context, feedback has no effect. For feedback to have the
greatest impact there must be a learning context or a teaching context in which
feedback is addressed. In other words, the focus of feedback is an integral element
of effective feedback (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). Feedback must provide specific
information related to the learning task or process in order to reduce discrepancy The Concept of Feedback
between what is understood and what is supposed to be understood (Hattie &
Timperley, 2007).

In reality, feedback is part of teaching, and it takes place after a learner has been
taught something. Practically, information about some aspect of the learning
performance is provided as feedback. Feedback can be provided in numerous
different ways, including as an affective process (e.g., providing motivation,
inciting increased effort and engagement) and a cognitive process (e.g.,
 8
restructuring understanding, guiding learners toward directions that they could
pursue, and suggesting relevant strategies to comprehend certain knowledge). In
addition, feedback can be either active or passive. Active feedback occurs when
an individual seeks feedback from an instructor and passive feedback occurs
when an individual is given feedback by an instructor.

In the context of learning and teaching in higher education, students can seek
feedback from teachers to improve the learning experience, and teachers can seek
feedback from students to improve the instructional design (i.e., their teaching).
Therefore, having a good understanding of the concept of feedback may help
teachers and/or students enhance the learning and teaching environment in
higher education. In a nutshell, using feedback effectively is an important strategy
to ensure a worthwhile learning and teaching experience in higher education.

The Concept of Feedback

 2.0
Evidence for the Effects of Feedback
on Learning and Teaching

Feedback can have a very powerful effect on learning

(Hattie & Timperley, 2007; Norcini, 2010).

Feedback alone had a positive feedback on performance

and achievement (Hattie, 1999; Norcini, 2010; Veloski, et al., 2006).

2.1 How Effective is Feedback in the Educational Context?

In an extensive review of over 500 meta-analyses involving hundreds of

thousands of studies and effect sizes, millions of students reported that
feedback has a strong influence on learning achievement (Hattie, 1999;
Hattie & Timperley, 2007). These reviews revealed over 100 factors that
influence educational achievement, such as school attributes, students,
teachers, and curricula (Hattie, 1999; Hattie & Timperley, 2007). It is obvious
that teachers’ roles are more important to enhance learning than the level of
student maturation (Table 1). However, innovations in schooling can improve
learning beyond the teacher effects (Hattie, 1999; Hattie & Timperley, 2007).
 10
Table 1: Normative comparison of effect size on learning

Factor Effect size1

Student maturation 0.10

A teacher in front of a classroom 0.24

Innovations in schooling 0.40

Source: Hattie (1999). 1Effect size is an indicator to measure the magnitude of

an intervention effect (e.g., effect size for innovations in schooling was +0.40;
this result indicated that learning achievements were improved by 40% of a
standard deviation as a result of the innovations).

Evidence for the Effects of Feedback on Learning and Teaching

Table 2: The top 10 factors that influence student achievement
Rank Factor Effect size
1 Reinforcement 1.13
2 Student prior cognitive ability 1.04
3 Instructional quality 1.00
4 Instructional quantity 0.84
5 Direct instruction 0.82
6 Feedback 0.79
7 Acceleration 0.72
8 Remediation 0.67
9 Student disposition to learn 0.61
10 Class environment 0.56
Source: Hattie (1999) and Hattie & Timperley (2007)

The average effect size of innovations in schooling on educational

achievement was 0.40 (educational achievement was improved by 40% of
a standard deviation) (Table 1). However, the effect size of feedback was
0.79 (Table 2), which is about twice the average effect size of innovations
in school (Hattie, 1999; Hattie & Timperley, 2007; Norcini, 2010). In addition,
feedback was ranked among the top 10 factors that influence educational
 11
achievement (Table 2) (Hattie, 1999; Hattie & Timperley, 2007). As mentioned
by Hattie (1999), “The most powerful single moderator that enhances
learning achievement is feedback.”

Through feedback, teachers know the extent of information students

have learned as a result of their teaching, and students know the extent of
information they have to learn to improve their performance. This is reflected
in the statement below:

The most fundamental component of teaching is imparting

information to students, assessing and evaluating the students

Evidence for the Effects of Feedback on Learning and Teaching

understanding of this information, and then matching the next
teaching act to the present understandings of the student.
(Hattie, 1999, pg. 9)

Even though the impacts of feedback were reported mainly for learning
achievements, these results could also be applied to the teaching context
because teachers are always learning how to improve their teaching
performance. Therefore, feedback plays a vital role in enhancing both
learning and teaching in the classroom.
 12
2.2 Types of Feedback and How they Improve Learning
Achievements

Some types of feedback are more effective than others.

(Hattie & Timperley, 2007; Norcini, 2010)

Table 3: Types of feedback and their effects on learning

achievements

Rank Types of feedback Effect size

1 Cues 1.10

Evidence for the Effects of Feedback on Learning and Teaching

2 Feedback 0.95
3 Reinforcement 0.94
4 Video or audio feedback 0.64
5 Computer-assisted instructional feedback 0.52
6 Goals and feedback 0.46
7 Student evaluation feedback 0.42
8 Corrective feedback 0.37
9 Delayed versus immediate 0.34
10 Reward 0.31
11 Immediate versus delayed 0.24
12 Punishment 0.20
13 Praise 0.14
14 Programmed instruction -0.04
Source: Hattie & Timperley (2007)

Previous studies revealed that feedback has the greatest impact on learners
(i.e., students or teachers) who received information feedback about a
learning task and strategies to improve it in the future (Hattie & Timperley,
2007) (Table 3). Feedback has the least effect on learners who received praise,
rewards, and punishment (Hattie & Timperley, 2007) (Table 3).
 13
The focus of feedback influences its effectiveness.
(Hattie & Timperley, 2007)

The focus or direction of the feedback has a strong influence on learning

achievement (Hattie & Timperley, 2007; Kluger & DeNisi, 1996), as summarized
in Table 4. Feedback seems to have a better impact on learning achievement
when it provides correct information rather than incorrect information (Hattie
& Timperley, 2007; Moore & Kuol, 2005). In addition, the impact is augmented
if the feedback provides information based on what learners have learned or
experienced from the previous instruction (Hattie & Timperley, 2007; Moore
& Kuol, 2005). The impact of feedback on learning achievement also depends

Evidence for the Effects of Feedback on Learning and Teaching

on the degree of complexity of the goals and tasks (Hattie & Timperley, 2007;
Moore & Kuol, 2005). Feedback has the greatest impact when goals are
specific and challenging, when it occurs in a low-threat environment, and
when task complexity is low (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). In addition, providing
feedback through technology (i.e., a computer) seems to have better effects
on learning achievement than traditional. Praise for task performance and
discouragement as feedback strategies appear to be ineffective (Table 4).
 14
Table 4: Focus of feedback and its effects on learning
Focus of feedback Effect size
Correct feedback
Correct responses 0.43
Incorrect responses 0.25
Task feedback about changes from previous trials
Yes 0.55
No 0.28
Task feedback designed to discourage the student
Yes –0.14
No 0.33
Praise feedback about the task

Evidence for the Effects of Feedback on Learning and Teaching

Yes 0.09
No 0.34
Feedback provided from a computer
Yes 0.41
No 0.23
Number of times feedback was provided
Lots 0.32
Little 0.39
Task complexity
Very complex 0.03
Not complex 0.55
Goal setting
Difficult goals 0.51
Easy, do your best goals 0.30
Threat to self-esteem
Much threat 0.08
Little threat 0.47
Source: Hattie & Timperley (2007) and Kluger & DeNisi (1996)
 15
2.3 Reactions of Students and Teachers to Feedback

This section describes ways in which students and teachers react to feedback.

Feedback can be perceived in negative or positive ways.

(Moore & Kuol, 2005)

There are many ways to provide feedback to teachers about their teaching
performance, including student evaluation, peer review, portfolio, self-
evaluation, administration evaluation, and student outcomes (Berk, 2005;
Berk et al., 2004). Although debate continues about the value of these

Evidence for the Effects of Feedback on Learning and Teaching

methods, over the past three decades student evaluation has emerged as
the main feedback method used to evaluate teacher performance (Berk,
2005; Berk et al., 2004; Moore & Kuol, 2005). The use of student evaluation
has been the subject of substantial debate among academicians (Moore
& Kuol, 2005). In addition, there has been substantial evidence of teachers’
unfriendliness and skepticism toward student evaluation (Berk et al., 2004;
Nasser & Fresko, 2002; Schmelkin et al., 1997).
 16
Table 5: Positive and negative arguments related to using student
evaluation as a feedback tool to evaluate teacher performance

Positive arguments Negative arguments

Students can provide useful information
about the effectiveness of teaching
methods, equity in the evaluation/ Students are not an appropriate or
teaching process, faculty focus on the effective source to evaluate teaching.
students, and faculty enthusiasm and
interest in the course content.

It provides an important developmental

Students’ motivation and expected
opportunity for students to provide
grades could bias student evaluation.
feedback about instructional design.

Student evaluation can avoid the Student evaluation of teaching is more

proliferation of misleading information likely to be a “personality contest”

Evidence for the Effects of Feedback on Learning and Teaching

and feedback about teaching that is rather than a valid measure of teaching
based on hearsay and anecdotes. effectiveness.

Student evaluation that uses responses

Student evaluation of teaching can
from a representative sample of students
lead to “grade inflation” and a lowering
in a specific class setting can help to
of standards.
identify teaching problems or issues.

Student evaluation requires students

In diverse classroom settings, student
to respond to performance issues that
evaluation can identify groups of students
are beyond their own knowledge and
that encounter certain difficulties.
experience.

The motive for implementing student

Using a teaching-related measurement evaluation in the educational contexts
instrument can confer on the dimensions is neither educationally sound nor
of teaching role. focused on fulfillment of the goals of
either teachers or students.

Student evaluation primarily serves the

Student evaluation can give rise to
needs of the bureaucracy in order to
significant improvements in the student
fulfill relatively shallow notions of what
learning experience.
teaching quality represents.

Source: Moore & Kuol (2005) pg. 59–60

Despite the criticisms and debates surrounding the value of student

evaluation, the focus in higher education on quality, accountability, and the
importance of “reflective practice” in teaching has led to the increased use of
student evaluation as a tool to provide feedback about teacher performance
(Moore & Kuol, 2005). Indeed, a large percentage of faculties showed positive
 17
attitudes about the usefulness and validity of student evaluation as a tool
for improving teaching performance (Nasser & Fresko, 2002). The pros and
cons of student evaluation as a feedback tool for teacher performance are
summarized in Table 5.

Good teaching, whether it is conducted in the

classroom, clinic, or hospital, requires time. Innovative
approaches to teaching, progressive skills instruction,
multitier assessment, and support of the development
of professionalism all require teachers who have
the time to observe, instruct, coach, and assess their
students and who also have time for self-reflection and

Evidence for the Effects of Feedback on Learning and Teaching

their own professional development. (Cox et al., 2006)

All methods of feedback have strengths and flaws, thus the use of multiple
evaluation methods is a wiser approach, as different methods could
compensate for flaws in any one feedback method used (Epstein, 2007).

Despite the important roles students play in the

feedback process, much of the feedback research has
put teachers at the centre of the stage. (Lee, 2008)

Students tend to be viewed as mere recipients – when

in fact they can be and should be active and proactive
agents in the feedback process. (Lee, 2008)

Students are generally willing to do evaluations and

to provide feedback, and have no particular fear of
repercussions. (Spencer & Schmelkin, 2002)
 18
Apart from the teachers’ reaction to feedback, students’ attitudes towards
receiving and giving feedback are important to understand (Lee, 2008;
Spencer & Schmelkin, 2002). As teachers give feedback to students, it is
also important that students’ comments are fed back to the teachers as a
mechanism to improve effective feedback practices (Lee, 2008). Student
reactions to feedback are summarized in Table 6.

Table 6: Student reactions to giving and receiving feedback

Reaction
Reactionto
toreceiving
receivingfeedback
feedback11 Reaction
Reaction to giving
to giving feedback
feedback 2 2

Students value teachers’ feedback as

Students perceived that their feedback
very useful in helping them improve
to teachers is important.

Evidence for the Effects of Feedback on Learning and Teaching

their learning achievement.
Students prefer teachers’ feedback that
Students perceived that they are
focuses more on specific than general
qualified to rate their teachers.
issues.
Students are not too optimistic about
Students are eager to have all of their
the overall weight put by teachers on
mistakes pointed out by teachers.
their feedback.
Students prefer to be actively engaged Students are not reluctant to provide
in the teacher feedback process. feedback to teachers.
Students do not worry about potential
Students prefer to be given clues about
consequences of their feedback to
their errors.
teachers.
Students perceived that they are not
Students prefer to get feedback in an
biased when providing feedback to
appropriate educational context.
teachers.
Students perceived that they lack
Students prefer to get constructive
knowledge to provide feedback that
feedback.
could influence teaching.
Students prefer to have written
feedback from teachers.
Students prefer that teachers provide
feedback on content rather than on
other aspects of an educational task.
Academically weak students are more
resistant than academically good
students to feedback that focuses on
errors.
Source: 1Lee (2008) and 2Spencer & Schmelkin (2002)
Based on Table 6, it appears that student reactions to feedback are complex.
Reactions are related not only to student characteristics such as academic
performance but also to factors related to the teacher, such as teacher beliefs
and practices, communication with students, and the educational context
in which feedback is delivered (Lee, 2008; Spencer & Schmelkin, 2002). In a
nutshell, empowering students in the feedback process is a wise approach to
improve their learning experience.
 3.0
A Model to Identify the Contexts
Under which Feedback has the
Greatest Impact
Figure 2 presents a feedback framework. Its purpose is to reduce gaps between
what is currently understood and what will be understood. This framework
emphasizes the importance of feedback being targeted at the appropriate level
of learners, as certain types of feedback are more effective than others at reducing
the gaps in specific context (Hattie & Timperley, 2007).

Purpose
To reduce discrepancies between current understanding/performance and the desired
understanding/performance

The discrepancy can be reduced by:

Student
• Increased effort and use of more effective strategies
• Abandoning, blurring, or lowering the goals
Teacher
• Providing appropriate challenging and specific goals
• Assisting students in reaching them through effective learning strategies and feedback

Effective feedback answers three questions:

1. Where am I going? (The goals) Feed Up
2. How am I doing? Feed Back
3. Where to next? Feed Forward

Each feedback question works at four levels:

1. Task level: How well tasks are understood/performed
2. Process level: The main process needed to understand/perform task
3. Self-regulation level: Self-monitoring, directing, and regulating of actions
4. Self level: Personal evaluation and affect (usually positive) about the learner

Figure 2: A model of feedback to enhance learning and teaching

[source: Hattie & Timperley (2007), pg.87].
 21
3.1 How Feedback Works

Feedback works simply by reducing gaps between current understanding/

performance and the desired understanding/performance. Table 7
summarizes ways to reduce the discrepancy between the two.

A Model to Identify the Contexts Under which Feedback has the Greatest Impact
If feedback fails to reduce the gap between what is understood and what
will be understood, learners (i.e., students and teachers) might reduce the
gap by 1) exaggerating their current learning accomplishment or 2) claiming
a variety of learning accomplishments that reduce effort and engagement.

If goals are poorly defined, feedback will not reduce the gap between
current understanding and intended understanding because learners will
not see valid reasons to put effort into reducing the gap (Hattie & Timperley,
2007). Feedback often is not connected to attainment of important aspects
of the intended goal. For example, frequently learners are given feedback
on presentation, spelling, and quantity of writing; however, if the intended
learning goal for the writing assignment is actually to create mood in a story,
such feedback will not be effective in reducing the gap in relation to the
intended goal (Hattie & Timperley, 2007).
 22
Table 7: Ways to reduce the discrepancy between current
understanding and intended understanding
Students Teachers
Productive Strategy
Increasing effort to tackle more Providing appropriate challenging and
challenging tasks specific goals

A Model to Identify the Contexts Under which Feedback has the Greatest Impact
Increasing effort to appreciate higher
Clarifying goals to reach students
quality experiences rather than doing
through feedback
“more”
Developing effective error detection Enhancing commitment to reach
skills that lead to self-feedback students through feedback
Seeking better strategies to complete Increasing effort to reach students
the task through feedback
Creating a learning environment in
Obtaining more information from
which students develop self-regulation
relevant sources to solve problems
and error detection skills
Using self-regulatory abilities Setting appropriate focus of feedback
Less Productive Strategy
Abandoning goals
Picking and choosing goals that can be achieved and ignoring the others
Changing the standard by setting less challenging goals
Changing the standard by accepting performance below their capability as
satisfactory

3.2 The Three Questions to be Addressed for Effective

Feedback

These three questions (“Where am I going?”, “How am I doing?” and

“Where to next?”) typically work together in the feedback process (Hattie &
Timperley, 2007), as they are integrated and complement each other during
the feedback process.

3.2.1 Where am I going?

This question refers to a goal setting effort designed to reach intended
learning outcomes. Students and teachers set a desired learning goal
to be achieved in relation to a task in order to reduce the discrepancy
between current understanding and desired understanding.
 23
These goals can be wide ranging and include item such as writing a
research proposal, planning a community program, performing in a
theater production, or drawing a beautiful picture. Many approaches
can be used to evaluate the accomplishment of the desired learning
goals, including the following (Hattie & Timperley, 2007):

A Model to Identify the Contexts Under which Feedback has the Greatest Impact
i. Direct approach, such as passing an examination and finishing a
project;

ii. Comparative approach, such as doing better than the last

examination or doing better than other students;

iii. Social approach, such as seeking teachers’ endorsement or not

getting a detention;

iv. Engagement approach, such as conducting a research project or

analyzing research data;

v. Induction of awareness approach, such as successfully applying the

concepts during analysis or looking for more challenging tasks.

The last approach is the best approach because seeking more

challenging tasks can encourage goal-directed action (i.e., success
on tasks), build determination to successfully perform tasks even
when difficulties are encountered, and favor the continuation of
challenging tasks even in the presence of more eye-catching options
(Bargh et al., 2001). As concluded in a previous study, “the provision
of challenging assignments and extensive feedback lead to greater
student engagement and higher achievement” (Black & Wiliam, 1998,
pg. 12).
 24
Challenge and commitment are two dimensions of a goal (Hattie
& Timperley, 2007), and there are two strategies to setting a
challenging goal:

i. Students (and teachers) are informed about the extent of

understanding/performance that is to be accomplished, thus they

A Model to Identify the Contexts Under which Feedback has the Greatest Impact
can plan and appraise their actions and efforts accordingly. It lets
them set appropriate goals and map their performance based on the
goals so that fine-tuning of effort, direction, and even strategy can be
made as required (Locke & Latham, 1990). The extent of attainment
of the goals is used as indicators of success (Hattie & Timperley,
2007). “Goals without clarity as to when and how a student (teacher)
would know they were successful are often too vague to serve the
purpose of enhancing learning” (Hattie & Timperley, 2007).

ii. Students (and teachers) are allowed to set more challenging

goals once the previous goals are accomplished; this encourages
continuous learning.

Goal commitment refers to individuals’ commitment to their

goals. The strongest relationship between goal and performance
occurs when people are committed to their goals (Locke & Latham,
2002). Goals become more valuable and useful when students (and
teachers) share a commitment to achieve the goals because they
are keen to search for and receive feedback (Locke & Latham, 1990).
Commitment can be induced in various ways, such as by authority
figures, peer groups, and rewards.

When goals are clearly defined at the appropriate level, students

and teachers are committed to these goals, and a clearer view of the
success criteria is likely to be shared (Hattie & Timperley, 2007).
 25
3.2.2 How am I doing?

Feedback agents (i.e., teachers, students, peers, or self ) are needed to

provide appropriate information with regard to a task or performance,
such as information related to standard criteria for completing
critical components of the task or performance. Feedback is valuable

A Model to Identify the Contexts Under which Feedback has the Greatest Impact
when it provides information about how to move forward and
directions about how to make progress on a critical component of
the task. Most of the time, the question “How am I doing?” will lead to
assessment, but this is not the basic concept underlying this question.
Assessment always fails to deliver feedback information that can help
learners know how well they are doing (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). To
obtain the greatest benefit from feedback, the information should
be delivered in a specific manner that addresses a critical component
of a task or performance and it should be delivered in a low-threat
environment (Hattie & Timperley, 2007).

3.2.3 Where to next?

Addressing the question “Where to next?” provides information

that leads to greater opportunities for learning (Hattie & Timperley,
2007). Examples of feedback that can address this question include
providing more challenging tasks, allowing learners to self-direct in
their learning process, guiding them with useful strategies that will
help them to progress further, provoking deeper understanding
of subjects, and addressing what is known and what is not known.
This feed forward question can result in the most potent impacts on
learning (Hattie & Timperley, 2007).
 26
3.3 Focus of feedback

As has been discussed previously, the focus of feedback is vital. The four
main levels of focus are as follows:

i. Feedback on a task (FT) involves directions to obtain more information from

various sources to verify achievement status related to a task or performance,

A Model to Identify the Contexts Under which Feedback has the Greatest Impact
such as whether a task is correctly or incorrectly done, which later could be
readjusted to achieve the desired goals. It also involves directions to obtain
more information for building a better learning experience. It is also known as
corrective feedback or knowledge of result (Hattie & Timperley, 2007).

ii. Feedback on the process (FP) involves providing appropriate information in

relation to the procedure, practice, method, or process used to accomplish a
task or to create a product (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). For example, a teacher
might say, “You need to use the independent-t test to determine the mean
difference in IQ scores between male and female students.”

iii. Feedback on self-regulation (FR) involves providing information related to

a task or performance that leads to greater skills in self-evaluation and that
promotes confidence to engage in more challenging tasks or to advance a
deeper understanding of a task. Such feedback can have major influences
on learning achievement. For example, “You must know the assumptions of
the independent-t test. Check to see whether you have written them in your
report.”

iv. Feedback on self (FS) involves providing information about the self as
a person. For example, “You are a very good student” and “You are very
beautiful”. This kind of feedback generally does not help a learner to achieve
learning goals.

Among these four levels, FR and FP are powerful in terms of deep processing
and mastery of a task (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). FT is powerful when
information subsequently is used to improve FP or enhance FR (Hattie &
Timperley, 2007). The least effective strategy is FS because the feedback is
often unrelated to performance on the task (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). The
characteristics of each level of focus are summarized in Table 8.
 27
Table 8: The characteristics of each level of focus
FT FP FR FS
It is about how well a It concerns the processes Self-regulation involves It is personal feedback
task is being performed underlying tasks or interplay between and typically expresses
or accomplished and relating and extending commitment, control, and positive evaluation and
building more surface tasks, thus providing confidence to accomplish effects about the learner,
knowledge. deeper understanding. a task. and it usually contains

A Model to Identify the Contexts Under which Feedback has the Greatest Impact
little task-related
information.
It relates to correctness, It relates to students’ It addresses the way It is not very effective
neatness, behaviors, or strategies for error learners monitor, direct, yet is widely used in
other criteria related to detection. and regulate actions classrooms.
task accomplishment. toward accomplishment
of learning goals.
It is about providing It provides information as It leads to seeking, It is rarely converted
correct or different a cueing mechanism and accepting, and into favorable
information. leads to more effective accommodating feedback accomplishment or
information search and information. performance of tasks.
use of task strategies.
It is more powerful when Cues are most useful Its effectiveness is Its effectiveness is very
the problem is faulty when they assist learners mediated by capability of much influenced by
interpretation rather than in rejecting errors learners to create internal learners’ self-conception.
lack of information. and provide direction feedback.
for searching and
strategizing.
It aims to move students It is more effective than Its effectiveness is Praise or criticism
from task to processing FT for enhancing deeper mediated by capability of directed toward personal
and then from processing learning. learner to self-appraise. characteristics has little
to regulation. influence on student
achievements. (e.g., “You
are a good student.”)
It is most beneficial Its effectiveness is Praise or criticism
when it helps learners mediated by the directed toward effort,
recognize errors and willingness to invest self-regulation, or
provides cues as to effort into seeking and processes can assist in
direction for searching dealing with feedback enhancing self-efficacy
and strategizing toward information. and have an impact on
task accomplishment. the task (e.g., “You are a
good student because you
have carefully completed
the task by applying
these concepts.”)
Too specific and too much Its effectiveness is It should be delivered
feedback only at the task mediated by the degree in ways that enhance
level can interfere with of confidence or certainty learning gains in an
task accomplishment. in the correctness of the appropriate educational
response. context.
 28
Simple rather than Its effectiveness is Older learners perceive
complex FT tends to be mediated by the praise after success or
more effective. attribution of success or neutral feedback after
failure. failure as an indication
that their ability is low.
Good students are more Its effectiveness is Younger learners perceive
likely to make efficient mediated by the level of praise as an indication of
use of the FT, whatever its proficiency at seeking high ability and criticism

A Model to Identify the Contexts Under which Feedback has the Greatest Impact
complexity. help. after failure as an
indication of low ability.
FT can be delivered It has two types: effort FS tends to be more
and received in both feedback and ability generalized at the self
individual and group feedback. level, thus it is difficult
contexts. for the teacher to change
learning behaviour.
Providing FT through It depends on the stage
written format is more of task accomplishment.
effective than marks or (e.g., effort feedback
grades. It is very useful is more required at
when learning new skills the beginning stages,
or tasks. whereas ability feedback
is more required as skills
develop successfully.

Source: Hattie & Timperley (2007)

 4.0
Common Issues Related to Feedback

The following four issues related to feedback are commonly debated: timing of
feedback, effects of positive and negative feedback, feedback and classrooms,
and feedback and assessment (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). Each issue will be
elaborated further in the next sections.

4.1 Timing of Feedback

Generally there are two types of feedback: immediate and delayed (Table 9).

Table 9: Characteristics of immediate and delayed feedback

Immediate feedback Delayed feedback

It is effective to provide instant mistake It is effective to provide delayed mistake
correction during task performance; this correction during processing of a task
may lead to quicker accomplishment. when it requires a longer duration to
accomplish the task.

Its effects are likely to be more powerful Its effects are likely to be more powerful
at the task level (FT). at the process level (FP).

It is useful for attaining easy learning It is useful for attaining difficult learning
outcomes because it involves a shorter outcomes because it involves a greater
degree of processing about the task. degree of processing about the task.
 30
4.2 Effects of Positive and Negative Feedback

Negative and positive feedback can have favorable effects on learning.

However, these effects vary depending on the feedback levels (i.e., FT, FP, FR,
and FS). Negative feedback refers to information given to learners that argues
against the learners’ understanding or beliefs in relation to a task. Negative
feedback is also known as disconfirmation feedback. Positive feedback refers
to information given to learners that supports the learners’ understanding or
beliefs in relation to a task. Positive feedback is also known as confirmation
feedback. Table 10 summarizes the effects of positive and negative feedback
according to the feedback levels.

Table 10: Effects of positive and negative feedback according to

feedback levels

Feedback Effect
level Positive feedback
FT i. Poor feedback delivery can be
disregarded by learners.
ii. It also can be ignored by learners
if the learners’ knowledge is
insufficient to accommodate
additional feedback information.
Negative feedback
i. Disconfirmation with
adequate information
can be effective because
it provides relevant
information regarding what
to do or how to respond
next time.

Common Issues Related to Feedback

ii. Poor feedback delivery can
be ignored by learners.

iii. It can also be ignored by

learners if the learners’
knowledge is insufficient to
accommodate additional
feedback information.

FP i. Poor feedback delivery can be disregarded by learners.

ii. Students will ignore the feedback if their knowledge is insufficient

to accommodate additional feedback information.
 31
FR i. It is mediated by the learners’ i. It is mediated by the
commitment to goals and self- learners’ commitment to
efficacy. goals and self-efficacy.

ii. It increases motivation more than ii. It increases motivation

negative feedback for a task that more than positive
people “want to do.” feedback for a task that
people “have to do.”
iii. Highly self-efficacious learners
take it as a hint of potential ability. iii. Highly self-efficacious
learners deal with
iv. For low self-efficacious learners, disconfirmation feedback
it may 1) encourage them to positively.
increase effort to reach a minimum
requirement of performance or 2) iv. It has negative impacts
lead them to avoid feedback after on motivation and
initial achievement because they performance of low
have reached an adequate level of self-efficacious learners;
performance and additional tests they might experience
merely put them at risk of getting negative effect, exhibit
an unfavorable outcome. less motivation on a
subsequent task, and
attribute the feedback
less to effort and more to
ability.
FS i. It is less potent at the self level i. It is more potent at the self
because individuals tend to be level because individuals
satisfied with feedback that fits will acquire more
with their self-conception. information to verify their
self-conception.

ii. Neutral or without praise

feedback is more effective

Common Issues Related to Feedback

than praise if it works
together with FT.

FT = Feedback on task; FP = Feedback on processing of task; FR = Feedback on self-

regulation; FS = Feedback on self. Source: Hattie & Timperley (2007)

4.3 Feedback and Classrooms

The proposed feedback framework highlights the requirements for teachers

to teach effectively. Teachers need to strive for effective teaching because
feedback is the consequence of previous instruction (refer to Figure 1). To
make feedback effective, teachers must make appropriate judgments about
when, how, and at what level to provide appropriate feedback to learners,
and they also must determine which of the three questions should be
addressed (refer to Figure 2).
 32
A previous study reported that the most common form of feedback in the
classroom is praise (FS), which is a poor approach to stimulate learning
achievement (Bond et al., 2000). When feedback is given at the self level, it
tends to be self related (FS) or at best corrective task related (FT), and usually
it is influenced by perceptions of students’ needs. For example, the feedback
teachers tend to give to male learners is more related to a lack of effort or
poor behavior, whereas that given to female learners is more about pleasant
characteristics or outcomes (i.e., ability attributions) (Hattie & Timperley,
2007).

Feedback is not only differentially given but also differentially received

by learners based on their cultural background. For example, Hattie and
Timperley (2007) reported that Asian learners preferred indirect and implicit
feedback, more group focus, and no self level feedback (FS), whereas
learners from Western countries preferred more direct feedback, particularly
related to effort, were more likely to use direct inquiry to seek feedback, and
preferred more individual focus and self-related feedback (FS). Therefore,
using the appropriate feedback approach at the right time and level could
reduce misinterpretation of the feedback information.

The classroom environment is vital, particularly when delivering

Common Issues Related to Feedback

disconfirmation and corrective feedback to students (and teachers). In
addition, it should be done with due diligence if the feedback is expected
to be used by the students (and teachers). Researchers have reported that
errors and disconfirmation are the most potent agents to stimulate and
encourage future learning particularly that which are related to processing
(FP) and regulation (FR) (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). Typically, learners
respond to feedback only when they are fairly sure that they can respond
correctly (Lee, 2008; Spencer & Schmelkin, 2002). It should be noted that
errors (and learning from them) are rarely welcomed. Simply providing more
feedback is not the solution, because it is necessary to consider the nature of
the feedback, the timing, and how a learner receives this feedback (Hattie &
Timperley, 2007).
 33
In summary, when providing feedback, teachers need to consider learner
diversity in the learning process and be sensitive to providing information
that addresses the three feedback questions. Teachers also should devise
strategies to help learners engage with these three questions.

4.4 Feedback and Assessment

To reiterate, feedback refers to actions taken by external agents to provide

information about some aspects of an individual’s task performance (Archer,
2010; Hattie & Timperley, 2007; Kluger & DeNisi, 1996; Veloski, et al., 2006;
Winne & Butler, 1994). For feedback to occur, instruction must occur prior
to the feedback (Hattie & Timperley, 2007) and task performance must be
observed (Norcini, 2010).

Assessment in classrooms describes activities that provide teachers and

learners with feedback information in relation to the three feedback
questions at different feedback levels (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). Assessment
tasks should be designed to provide information about and interpretation
of the gaps between current understanding and the desired learning goals
at any of the three feedback levels (i.e., about 1) tasks (FT), 2) the processes

Common Issues Related to Feedback

or strategies needed to understand the tasks (FP), and 3) the regulation,
engagement, and confidence in becoming more committed to learning
(FR)). This differs from the classic definition of assessment, which refers to
activities used to assess learners’ level of proficiency and emphasizes grades
or scores and focuses less on the interpretation of these grades or scores
(Hattie & Timperley, 2007). Unfortunately, there is little evidence that such
traditional assessment has aided in the learning process because it involves
minimal reflection and interpretation on what is being assessed (Black &
Wiliam, 1998).

Assessment feedback aims to “drive” learning (Epstein, 2007) or to “do more”

or “do better” (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). However, too often learners receive
little feedback information, mainly because assessment feedback does not
 34
concentrate on the three feedback questions. Thus, such feedback rarely
augments the process (FP) and self-regulation (FR) of the task (Hattie &
Timperley, 2007). In addition, teachers often see assessment as making
a testimonial about learners, and they do not view it as being about
their teaching effectiveness (Timperley & Wiseman, 2003). Therefore, the
significant advantages of feedback assessment in the classroom are often
diluted.

There are many ways in which teachers can deliver feedback to their students
and students can receive feedback from their teachers, peers, and other
sources. Using more tests is not the solution; the solution lies in how the
tests are designed (Epstein, 2007).

For students, tests are a means to:

i. Gain information about what and how well they understood and
misunderstood a task;

ii. Find directions and strategies that they must use to improve their learning
achievement;

iii. Seek assistance to help better understand the learning goals.

For teachers, tests are regarded as a type of feedback about their teaching

Common Issues Related to Feedback

effectiveness. Test results can help teachers identify which strategies should
be used next to improve their teaching.

Assessment can accommodate all of these feedback functions. However,

too often assessments are not properly programmed, thus fail to convey an
effective feedback to students or to teachers (Hattie & Timperley, 2007).
 5.0
Utilizing Feedback to Enhance
Learning and Teaching in the
Classroom
Feedback is information provided by an agent, such as a teacher, peer,
or administrator, regarding some aspects of an individual’s performance
or understanding. The main aim of feedback is to reduce gaps that exist
between current understanding/performance and the desired understanding/
performance in relation to tasks. The feedback model described previously
(Figure 2) includes three feedback questions that need to be addressed in order
to provide effective feedback: “Where am I going?” (feed up); “How am I doing?”
(feedback), and “Where to next?” (feed forward).

The answers to these questions will provide insight to teachers and learners
about ways to move forward to enhance learning and teaching effectiveness
when there are gaps between what is currently known and what is expected
to be known in relation to accomplishment of tasks (Hattie & Timperley, 2007).
Various approaches to reducing the gaps include increasing effort, motivation,
or engagement and increasing cue searching and task processes that lead to
understanding. The three questions certainly should not be linearly interpreted
or implemented, and the boundaries between them are quite unclear.

Although it is imperative to specify goals, learning experience do not necessarily

begin by asking “Where am I going?” because the answer can be discovered as
learners undertake particular tasks (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). How many goals
are enough? There is no absolute answer; it depends on the requirement of the
 36
tasks. Teachers and students should be aware that too many goals can create
conflicts and lead to wider gaps between current understanding and the desired
understanding. However, most of the time the accumulated learning goals can
lead to the following processes (Hattie & Timperley, 2007):

Utilizing Feedback to Enhance Learning and Teaching in the Classroom

Creating options to Weighing pros and cons
achieve the goals of options to achieve the
goals

Considering the likelihood Learning about and

that a given course of action evaluating the consequences
will lead to achievement of achieving the goals
of the goals

Thus, goals might be stagnant for particular issues, and feedback concerning “How
am I doing?” might help to provide relevant information to refine these “stagnant
goals” and help the student move towards achieving the desired understanding
and performance.
 37
Similarly, the answer to “Where to next?” might be stagnant for particular issues if:

The goal is rigid and static and the “learning outcomes”

focus on the same tasks, thereby leading to “stagnant
learning” in which the desired understanding would
not be achieved.

The learners believe that the answer is

“Wherever the teachers tell us to go.”

Utilizing Feedback to Enhance Learning and Teaching in the Classroom

Such situations typically indicate low self-regulation or overly dominant
classroom regimes (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). The answer to “Where to next?”
must be directed to fine tuning and looking for more challenging goals because
these have the highest chance of leading to better learning accomplishment.

Interconnections between the task, process, and self-regulatory levels must

be made for effective feedback to occur. In other words, they should be used
together in an appropriate context for feedback to have the greatest impact.

Feedback at the task level (FT) has the greatest impact on learning when it is
used to correct distorted interpretation, but it is not effective in situations in
which learners lack understanding. It also has a significant impact on learning
when it assists in generating more information about flawed assumptions and
thoughts, which then leads to the development of better strategies to process
and comprehend the tasks to be accomplished.

Feedback at the process level (FP) has the greatest impact on learning when
it helps students eliminate flawed assumptions and when it provides more
information for searching and developing better approaches to complete the
tasks. Such information allows learners to fine tune their effort towards attaining
required competencies to complete the tasks. Preferably, it should progress from
task to process (i.e., understanding that is required to learn the task) and later to
 38
self-regulation (i.e., learners’ commitment, confidence, and motivation to engage
in more challenging tasks and goals that go beyond the initial task). This process
might lead to greater motivation, commitment, and confidence and to greater
investment of effort toward achieving more challenging tasks. Commonly, this
kind of flow will be seen in learners who have shown a high level of fluency and
mastery (Hattie & Timperley, 2007).

Feedback at self-regulation level (FR) has a tremendous impact on learning to the

Utilizing Feedback to Enhance Learning and Teaching in the Classroom

extent that it will lead to a higher level of engagement in terms of spending more
effort to accomplish the task, to improve self-efficacy (i.e., one’s perception of
own capabilities to complete tasks and reach goals), and to generate attributions
(i.e., the explanations that one tends to make to explain success or failure) that the
feedback is deserved and earned (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). For feedback at the
FR level, the following important mediators for learning should be considered:

Engagement Engagement Engagement

with the task with learners’ with learners’
belief about self-conception
the significance about
of expending achieving
effort to reach the desired
the goals learning goals

Feedback at the self or personal level (FS) (i.e., usually praise) is often ineffective.
It rarely addresses the three feedback questions, thus it does not lead to
enhancement of learning. When feedback concentrates at the self, learners try to
do the following (Black & Wiliam, 1998):

Avoid the Minimize

risks involved effort to reach
in handling the desired
challenging learning goals
assignments
 39
To develop the optimal climate in the classroom, teachers and learners need to
have appropriate skills in relation to feedback. The skills include the following
(Hattie & Timperley, 2007):

Providing Dealing with Having a Readiness to Having the

and receiving multiple good un- encourage right timing

Utilizing Feedback to Enhance Learning and Teaching in the Classroom

feedback judgments derstanding self- to provide
about the regulation feedback
learning before
issues in order dissatisfaction
to provide becomes
feedback dominant
regarding
tasks or
interconnec-
tion between
thoughts

In order to dedicate time, resources, and thought to being responsive to feedback,

teachers should tailor various activities in the classroom as an “activity program”
and offer all learners various learning opportunities that might augment their
understanding on desired learning goals (Hattie & Timperley, 2007).

A challenge for teachers is to ensure that all learners perceive the learning goals as
relevant and salient because learners who are prepared to inquire and reflect on
what they know and understand are more ready to provide and receive feedback
(i.e., both positive and negative), and this situation offers them the best chances
for learning.

When providing feedback to weak learners, teachers should devise activities

that provide information about poorly understood concepts to reduce the gaps
between the learners’ current understanding and the desired learning outcomes.
 40
If feedback is directed to the appropriate level, it can help learners to understand,
employ, or build up appropriate strategies to process the information that must
be learned (Hattie & Timperley, 2007).

To be effective, feedback must be comprehensible, well focused, have an

important educational effect, be presented in a logical manner, and be
compatible with learners’ prior knowledge. It also needs to be given at an
appropriate time. It should provide meaningful information to learners, involve

Utilizing Feedback to Enhance Learning and Teaching in the Classroom

a simple but challenging task in relation to specific and understandable goals,
and be delivered in a low-threat environment. These requirements highlight the
importance of a classroom climate that encourages peer and self-assessment and
that allows learners to learn from errors.

Clearly, teachers should be as ready as learners to look for and learn from various
sources of feedback. If assessments address the three major feedback questions,
they will provide valuable information to both teachers and learners that might
enhance learning accomplishment. Unfortunately, assessments frequently
provide insignificant feedback to learners because they are used merely as
grades or numbers rather than as feedback devices that are important to enhance
teaching and learning processes (Hattie & Timperley, 2007).

Feedback together with effective teaching in the classroom has the greatest
impact on learning achievement. However, feedback can only build on previous
teaching; it is of little use when there is no initial learning. Feedback is what
happens after teaching has taken place, and it is a powerful tool that can influence
learning achievement as well as teaching effectiveness (Hattie & Timperley, 2007).
 6.0
Challenges to Creating a Culture that
Values Feedback

Two main factors challenge the creation of a culture that values feedback. First,
teachers are extremely busy and their lack of time is a major obstacle. It is very
important to reward busy teachers in a way that recognizes their dedication to a
culture of feedback, and administrators must provide them with time to engage
in and cultivate it (Norcini, 2010). Second, faculty training programs are needed to
ensure that the feedback process will optimize the learning process and augment
the quality of teaching (Norcini, 2010).
 7.0
Take-home Message

1. There is substantial evidence showing that feedback is an effective tool to

enhance learning and teaching.

2. There is ongoing debate about which source of feedback has the most
potent effect on learning and teaching.

3. Feedback has the greatest impact on learning and teaching when it is

delivered with specific and clear directions, provides simple and challenging
goals, occurs in a low-threat environment, and uses technology.

4. The aim of feedback is to reduce the discrepancy between what is

understood and what is expected to be understood.

5. Feedback without proper instructional design is of little use because there

is no initial learning.

6. There are three major questions (i.e., Where am I going? How am I doing?
Where to next?) that can be used as a guide to help teachers and learners
deliver effective feedback.

7. To be effective, feedback should be delivered at an appropriate level.

8. Assessment or testing should be used as a potent feedback tool to

augment teaching and learning.

9. To provide and receive feedback effectively, teachers and learners require

proper training.

10. A culture that values feedback should be instilled in every teacher and
learner.
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